“To declare that ‘church is not church’ unless it takes a certain form discounts our incredible history and demeans believers around the world who are meeting differently than we meet. And to insist that a specific form of church is essential can attach people more to the form than to the focus of our gatherings.” - Eric Geiger
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Church is essential, but a particular form of gathering is not
Since 2005
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Discussion
NewYes and No...
The author is correct that some “forms” of church are not essential (a building, musical instruments, coffee, etc.), but other forms are—those forms commanded by God that together constitute the regulative principle of worship. As the author himself notes, in order for a church to be an orderly church, there must be, at a very minimum, prayer, word, and sacrament. To these can be added other elements, such as gathering, singing, and sharing (fellowship and resources).
I’m disappointed that this debate has become a binary one. It should be an occasion for careful ecclesiastical nuance, not taking sides in an all-or-nothing kerfuffle.
MAS